Term
Air defence
Air defence is the military system used to detect, track and intercept hostile aircraft, missiles and drones. It combines radars, command networks and surface-to-air weapons.
4 September 2026
Archived edition
Lithuania
Summary
Kęstutis Budrys said on Thursday he will press in Washington for a longer US troop presence in Lithuania and clearer future rotations. Lithuania wants to be explicitly included in the Pentagon’s future force posture, and some of the more than 1,000 US soldiers whose rotation ended in summer have already remained in the country.
In parliament today, the TS-LKD opposition faction is meeting Budrys over relations with the United States, China and Belarus. Conservatives want direct answers on the stalled strategic dialogue with Washington and on the ministry’s line towards Beijing and Minsk. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said after meeting Laurynas Kasčiūnas that air defence is the first priority. That emphasis comes as Washington reviews its troop posture in Europe and after the United States sent allies an August questionnaire on taking more responsibility for the continent’s defence.
The prime minister’s office said on Thursday that Lithuania’s infrastructure will not be used for Russian grain exports. Klaipėda port has already handled 47,000 tonnes of grain of Russian origin in the first eight months of the year, mostly corn brought by rail from Kaliningrad. The State Food and Veterinary Service has taken samples from one shipment, and origin testing in France is expected to take two to three weeks. Transport minister Juras Taminskas has ordered Lietuvos Geležinkeliai to examine how LTG Cargo is moving the grain by rail.
Maxima Group said first-half revenue in the Baltics rose 2.8% to 2.03 billion euros and EBITDA reached 169.9 million euros. Lithuania made the biggest contribution to growth, with sales up 4.6% to 1.16 billion euros. In Kaunas, URMAS has opened more than 26 new retail units in its revamped Eastern Gallery, including a 2,500 sq m Norfa XXL, Kaunas’ first Uouorose store and Lithuania’s first Eurokos Outlet. LOGIN 2026 is also highlighting Bernard Meyer’s blunt AI talk as one of the sharper themes in its technology programme today.
Defence Minister Kaunas said the return of US troops to Lithuania is a response to Russia's actions and warned that Moscow will not stop. FIBA banned coach Rimantas Grigas from all basketball-related activity until October 27, 2030.
sources: vz.lt, tv3.lt, delfi.lt, lrt.lt, lrytas.lt, 15min.lt
Worth knowing
Top stories
Politics
Budrys seeks longer stay of American soldiers in Lithuania
On September 4, Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said he will push in Washington for a longer US military presence in Lithuania and for clearer future rotations. He cast the effort as a government-wide task and said Lithuania wants to be visibly included in the Pentagon’s future force posture. Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius had already said on September 2 that he expected Budrys to bring back good news from the United States. The timing matters because Washington is reviewing its troop posture in Europe and has asked European allies to show more progress on taking responsibility for their own defence. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Why it matters
Lithuania’s military planners and NATO’s eastern flank rely on the US presence for deterrence and for the tempo of joint drills. If rotations shorten, more of the burden shifts to Lithuanian and regional forces. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
Who benefits
Lithuanian defence planners and NATO’s eastern-flank forces gain, while any reduction in the American footprint would hurt those relying on a bigger US presence in the region. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
What's next
The next step is Budrys’ September visit to the United States and his talks on US force posture, which should show whether Washington agrees to longer rotations. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
sources:delfi.lt
Technology
Login 2026. Bernard Meyer. Most AI work is bullshit and vibecoding is a trap. Let’s fix it
LOGIN 2026’s live site today lists Bernard Meyer as Omnisend’s AI operations lead and a Lovable ambassador, with his talk placed in the AI and robotics track. The session title takes a blunt line on AI coding, arguing that much of the work is pointless and that vibe coding is a trap. The conference’s broadcast page also shows that recordings are available to ticket holders. The message is being framed as one of the event’s sharper technology talking points.
Why it matters
Omnisend, startup teams and product builders get a sharper line between a fast prototype and software that can actually be maintained. The debate lands directly on developers using AI tools and on managers deciding how much automation they can afford before technical debt starts to pile up.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Prime Minister: Lithuania's infrastructure will not be used for Russian grain exports
On September 4, the prime minister's office said Lithuania's transport infrastructure will not be used for Russian grain exports after grain loads of Russian origin were spotted at the port of Klaipėda. Port chief Algis Latakas said Klaipėda handled 47,000 tonnes of such grain in the first eight months of the year, mostly corn brought by rail from Kaliningrad. The State Food and Veterinary Service has already taken samples from one shipment, with origin testing in France expected to take two to three weeks. Transport minister Juras Taminskas has ordered Lietuvos Geležinkeliai to examine how LTG Cargo is moving the grain by rail.
Why it matters
Port terminals, rail freight operators and grain traders now face tighter origin checks and possible limits on cargo flows in the coming weeks. If authorities shut this transit down, Baltic shipping routes would shift and some operators would lose revenue.
sources:delfi.lt
Economy
Maxima group profit for the first half of the year reached 169.9 million euros
Maxima Group said on September 4 that first-half consolidated revenue in the Baltics rose 2.8% year on year to 2.03 billion euros. EBITDA came in at 169.9 million euros, while Lithuania delivered the biggest contribution to growth, with sales up 4.6% to 1.16 billion euros. The company also said it stepped up investment in its own store network in the first six months of 2026.
Why it matters
For suppliers and rival chains, the figures show how much room Maxima still has to fund store upgrades, wages and pricing pressure. For shoppers in Lithuania, the company’s spending decisions matter because its store network shapes everyday food prices and the pace of retail renovation.
Economy
URMAS mall: 10 million euros in investment over three years and growing visitor traffic
Kaunas-based Urmas has opened more than 26 new retail units in its revamped Eastern Gallery, including a 2,500 sq m Norfa XXL store. The overhaul also brings first-in-Kaunas and first-in-Lithuania concepts, such as Uouorose and Eurokos Outlet, broadening the mall’s mix beyond standard retail. Management has also upgraded the website and wayfinding plan to make visits easier. The aim is to turn the site into a stronger repeat-visit destination, not just a shopping stop.
Why it matters
Kaunas shoppers and tenants gain a wider choice, more branded formats and a more convenient one-stop visit. Nearby retailers face tougher competition as the revamped site pulls in more traffic and discount-driven buyers.
sources:vz.lt
Politics
Seimas TS-LKD faction to discuss relations with the US, China and Belarus with Budrys
The Seimas schedule for September 4 shows a 9 a.m. TS-LKD faction meeting with foreign minister Kęstutis Budrys. The conservatives say they were not satisfied with his written replies on the stalled strategic dialogue with the United States, talks with China and the spillover into ties with Belarus. They want direct answers on what the ministry is doing on Washington, Beijing and Minsk. The meeting comes after weeks of public friction between Budrys and the opposition conservatives over foreign policy priorities. (lrs.lt)
Why it matters
For defence and transit interests, the key question is whether Lithuania keeps a hard line on US security cooperation and sanctions policy, because that feeds directly into how Belarus and China are handled. More clarity would also help exporters selling into US and Asian markets. (archyvai.lrt.lt)
sources:tv3.lt
Europe
Summary
Donald Trump said yesterday that Washington would demand repayment from European countries for US military aid and munitions already sent to Ukraine. NATO allies have already committed more than $6 billion this year under the model in which Europeans buy US weapons for Kyiv, and the European Commission approved another 6.1 billion euros for Ukraine's defence in August.
In Kyiv on Friday, a Russian drone hit the central headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security service on Volodymyrska Street opposite St. Sophia Cathedral. Volodymyr Zelenskiy said the target was acting SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad's office, and city authorities said at least 12 people were wounded. In Odesa, a Russian strike early today killed one person, and the number of injured rose to at least five, including a child. Regional officials said the strike hit civilian infrastructure, damaging residential buildings and cars.
In the Sochi area overnight, a Ukrainian drone strike set an oil depot on fire in Russia's Krasnodar region. Monitoring channels placed the blaze near Sirius, close to the Abkhazia border, where an S-300 or S-400 air-defence unit may be deployed. Ukrainian media also said the same multi-wave attack hit a Russian vessel linked to maritime and energy operations.
Germany's navy has now confirmed that the frigate Sachsen-Anhalt fired a LORA ballistic missile in the North Atlantic, the country's first such sea-based test. If Berlin buys the Israeli-made system from Israel Aerospace Industries, it would become the Bundeswehr's first ballistic missile. Near Munich, a German-Ukrainian venture began serial production on Sept. 3 of more than 5,000 medium- and long-range combat drones for Ukraine. The roughly 300 million euro project is run by Auterion and Airlogix, and one variant will have a range of up to 1,500 km.
Late developments centred on air war escalation and regional defenses. Poland moved to strengthen its airspace protection after Russian provocations, while Kyiv said it was offering to halt airstrikes from its side even as Zelenskiy warned that Ukraine had identified the geographic scope of its response after the strike on the capital.
sources: 15min.lt, lrt.lt, vz.lt, tv3.lt, delfi.lt, lrytas.lt
Worth knowing
Term
LORA missile
LORA is an Israeli short-range ballistic missile designed for precision strikes against land targets. Built by Israel Aerospace Industries, it can be launched from land or sea-based platforms.
Top stories
Politics
Russian drone hit the SBU building in Kyiv center
A Russian drone hit the central headquarters of Ukraine’s SBU security service in central Kyiv on Friday, Sept. 4, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said. Zelenskiy said the drone was aimed directly at acting SBU chief Oleksandr Poklad’s office in the Volodymyrska Street building near St. Sophia Cathedral. Local authorities said at least 12 people were wounded. Zelenskiy ordered Poklad to prepare a response when feasible. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
For Kyiv residents and staff in the city centre, the strike raises the risk to buildings that sit among government offices, hotels and tourist sites. The SBU is one of the agencies carrying out deep strikes inside Russia, so hitting its headquarters targets a core part of Ukraine’s security apparatus. (apnews.com)
Who benefits
Russia’s military and propaganda effort gains from a hit on a high-profile target, while SBU staff, Kyiv civilians and emergency crews in the city centre bear the cost. (apnews.com)
What's next
The next step is the SBU response Zelenskiy told acting chief Oleksandr Poklad to prepare once it is ready. (investing.com)
Politics
Russian forces struck Odessa, one dead, three more injured
Russian strikes hit Odesa early on September 4, killing one person and leaving at least three injured, with regional officials later saying the toll had risen to at least five, including a child. Residential buildings and cars were damaged in one city district, and emergency crews were on site documenting the destruction. Regional authorities said the target was civilian infrastructure. An emergency response centre was being set up to help residents.
Why it matters
For Odesa residents, the immediate effect is damage to homes, cars and basic services, because the strike hit a residential area and civilian infrastructure. It also stretches rescue and municipal services, which must treat the injured, assess building safety and help displaced residents.
Politics
War in Ukraine: Trump's latest move against Europe will require payment
On September 3, Donald Trump said Washington would ask European countries to reimburse the United States for military aid and munitions already sent to Ukraine. The remarks followed a U.S.-backed model in which European allies buy American weapons for Kyiv, with NATO saying allies have already committed more than $6 billion under that scheme this year. The European Commission approved another €6.1 billion for Ukraine's defence in August, leaving Europe to absorb both fresh support for Kyiv and Trump's back-payment demand. (internazionale.it)
Why it matters
Ukraine's war effort now faces a sharper shift in financing from the U.S. to European budgets, just as allies are already paying for American-made weapons through NATO channels. That raises the cost and the political friction around every new package approved in Brussels and national capitals. (internazionale.it)
sources:15min.lt
Politics
War in Ukraine: reports of explosions and fire near a Russian oil storage facility in Sochi
Residents in Sochi heard multiple explosions overnight on Sept. 4, and local authorities in Russia's Krasnodar region said a Ukrainian drone strike triggered a fire at an oil depot. Russian and Ukrainian monitoring channels placed the blaze near Sirius, close to the Psou River and the Abkhazia border, where analysts said an S-300 or S-400 air-defense unit may be deployed. Ukrainian media said the city was hit in several waves on the same night, including an attack on a Russian vessel tied to maritime and energy operations. The key unanswered question is how much damage was done to fuel storage and whether the air-defense site was also struck.
Why it matters
The fire hits fuel storage and military infrastructure in a Black Sea hub that matters for local supply lines and for Russia's southern defenses. If damage to the air-defense site is confirmed, it would mark another strike on assets protecting the coast and nearby logistics.
sources:lrt.lt
Technology
Germans for the first time at sea tested a ballistic missile
Germany’s navy fired a ballistic missile from the frigate Sachsen-Anhalt in the North Atlantic on the night of Sept. 1-2, the Defence Ministry confirmed. The missile was the Israeli-made LORA system from Israel Aerospace Industries, according to the Reuters report carried by German outlets. The test came just hours after Berlin blamed Russia for an attempted drone attack on Leipzig/Halle airport and moved to tighten its response. If Germany buys the system, LORA would become the Bundeswehr’s first ballistic missile.
Why it matters
Germany’s navy and defense planners would gain a new long-range strike option, changing deterrence calculations in the North Atlantic and Baltic region. NATO allies are also watching for faster deep-strike capabilities after Russia’s war in Ukraine.
sources:delfi.lt
Technology
Media: Germany begins production of 5,000 long-range drones for Ukraine
A German-Ukrainian joint venture near Munich began serial production on Sept. 3 of more than 5,000 medium- and long-range combat drones for Ukraine. The project is run by Auterion and Airlogix, and first airframes have already been completed. Industry sources put the contract at about 300 million euros, with delivery due by mid-2027. Two variants will be built, including one with a range of up to 1,500 km, while Auterion supplies the software stack and Airlogix the hardware. (15min.lt)
Why it matters
Ukraine gets a larger pool of long-range strike drones that can be used against Russian logistics, depots and air-defence nodes. Germany also adds a new production line in its defence base, which could become a supply source for other European partners. (15min.lt)
sources:tv3.lt
World
Summary
Yemen's western front grew deadlier over the past two days, with 81 fighters killed as Houthi forces launched a ground assault near Mokha backed by rockets and drones. The clashes moved closer to the Bab al-Mandab strait, one of the world's most sensitive shipping lanes.
In Nepal, rescuers pulled two workers alive today from the Upper Trishuli 3A hydropower tunnel after they spent nine days trapped underground by floods and a mudslide. One survivor said others could still be alive inside, and officials say about 900 people may have been trapped across six projects along the Trishuli River. The Aug. 26 disaster in the border region has already killed more than 1,200 people.
In Kyiv, a Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security service in the city centre on Friday, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called it an escalation. Russia has also struck port infrastructure and a border crossing in Odesa region this week, while Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are due in Moscow and Kyiv this weekend for war talks. In Gaza City, Hamas urged Arab and Muslim countries to oppose proposals by two Israeli ministers to remove Palestinians from Gaza and send them abroad.
Stanford researchers said on Friday they built 16 working bacteriophages in the lab from AI-designed genomes after shortlisting nearly 300 candidates. President Donald Trump on Thursday named Adam Telle acting secretary of the U.S. Army after Dan Driscoll stepped down amid friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Mexico said authorities seized 17 tons of amphetamine in Sinaloa state. The United States imposed sanctions on Turkish bank Golden Global over alleged ties to Iran.
sources: lrt.lt, delfi.lt, 15min.lt, vz.lt, lrytas.lt, tv3.lt
Worth knowing
Term
bacteriophage
A bacteriophage is a virus that infects bacteria rather than humans or animals. Phages are being studied as a possible way to treat drug-resistant bacterial infections.
Top stories
Politics
Yemen casualties exceed 80 amid clashes between rebels and army
Fighting in Yemen killed 81 combatants on Sept. 3 and Sept. 4, military and medical sources said, as Houthi forces launched a ground push along the western front. Government sources said the rebels backed the assault with rockets and drones. The clashes were centred near the Red Sea port city of Mokha, which Houthi forces were trying to cut off from government-held areas. The push also brought fighting closer to the Bab al-Mandab strait, one of the world's most sensitive shipping lanes.
Why it matters
Mokha and the Bab al-Mandab strait sit on a key Red Sea shipping route, so the fighting raises risks for cargo traffic and coastal supply lines. The immediate pressure falls on Yemen's government forces, the port economy and shipping companies already weighing security risks.
Who benefits
In the short term, the Houthi command gains if it can push closer to Mokha and stretch government defences, while Yemeni government forces and Red Sea trade lose ground.
What's next
The next question is whether the Houthis keep pressing toward Mokha and whether government forces can hold their line near the Bab al-Mandab strait over the next 24 hours.
sources:delfi.lt
Politics
Sources: Russia may mount four major attacks in Ukraine in September
A Russian drone hit the headquarters of Ukraine's SBU security service in central Kyiv on September 4, with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy calling it a clear escalation. The strike came after days of near-constant attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding region, where four people were killed and more than a dozen wounded on September 1. Russia also hit port infrastructure and a border crossing in Odesa region on September 1, as Kyiv said Moscow has sharply increased strikes on export routes across the Black Sea. The attacks landed as Trump envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were due to travel to Moscow and Kyiv this weekend for war talks.
Why it matters
For Kyiv residents and exporters in Odesa region, the strikes mean more risk to civilian infrastructure, disrupted logistics and higher pressure on Black Sea shipping routes. It also makes diplomacy harder when attacks hit both a security headquarters and export hubs at the same time.
sources:delfi.lt
Health
Science fiction becomes reality researchers create AI-designed viruses
On September 4, 2026, Stanford researchers said they had built viruses in the lab from AI-designed genomes and recovered 16 working bacteriophages from nearly 300 shortlisted candidates. It is the first proof that AI can design viral genomes that do not exist in nature, although the phages were built to infect bacteria, not people or animals. The team says the technique could help tackle drug-resistant bacteria and open a path to new therapies. The result also sharpens biosecurity concerns, as researchers warn that open-source AI tools are becoming easier to use for biological work. (lrt.lt)
Why it matters
Hospitals and patients stand to gain if the approach yields new options against drug-resistant infections. If AI-designed phages scale, infectious-disease medicine benefits while bacteria that shrug off standard antibiotics become a harder target. (lrt.lt)
sources:lrt.lt
Politics
Hamas calls on Arab and Muslim peoples to oppose Israel's proposal
In Gaza City on Sept. 4, Hamas urged Arab and Muslim countries to unite against proposals from two Israeli ministers to remove Palestinians from Gaza and send them abroad. The group said the comments were dangerous and reflected plans that could reshape the enclave after nearly two years of war. The appeal came after the ministers revived a mass-relocation idea this week. Palestinians already say almost the entire Gaza population has been displaced inside the territory. (nampa.org)
Why it matters
For Gaza residents, the remarks revive fears of forced removal at a time when most of the population has already been displaced inside the enclave. Arab governments now face pressure to respond publicly to Israeli political calls that could shape the territory’s future. (anews.com.tr)
sources:delfi.lt
Society
Miracle in Nepal: two living people pulled from a tunnel after 9 days
Two workers were pulled alive from a hydropower tunnel in Nepal on Sept. 4, nine days after floods and a mudslide hit the Trishuli River valley. The rescue took place at the Upper Trishuli 3A project in Rasuwa district, where the tunnel was buried under debris and mud. Officials and rescuers still believe many others may be trapped in nearby hydropower projects, with the search now focused on reaching deeper sections of the tunnels. The disaster that hit the border region on Aug. 26 has already killed more than 1,200 people and displaced tens of thousands. (investing.com)
Why it matters
The rescue keeps alive the chance of finding more survivors in a disaster zone where thousands are still missing. It also shows how exposed Nepal’s hydropower buildout is when floods and landslides bury tunnels and cut off access. (investing.com)
Politics
Trump appoints Adam Tel as acting secretary of the U.S. Army
On Sept. 3, 2026, President Donald Trump named Adam Telle acting secretary of the U.S. Army after Dan Driscoll stepped down. Telle was the Army’s assistant secretary for civil works and had worked for Republican senators and in Trump’s first White House. Driscoll left after mounting friction with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Army’s civilian leadership is now in Telle’s hands while the White House decides whether to nominate a permanent successor. (apnews.com)
Why it matters
The Army’s civilian leadership is now under an acting appointee, which can slow or reshape decisions on budgets, infrastructure and civil works. The move also comes after a clash inside the Pentagon, so command relations may stay unsettled until a permanent nominee is named. (apnews.com)